Humanitarian Country Report

BRA - 2024

Executive Summary

Executive Summary: Humanitarian Situation in Brazil (2024)

Brazil currently hosts approximately 796,000 individuals requiring international protection, a figure that has shown significant and consistent growth across monitored groups since 2019. The population comprises refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable categories. Venezuelans (141,269) and Colombians (93,748) represent the largest refugee populations, underscoring the severe regional displacement driven by the Venezuelan crisis and ongoing challenges in the Caribbean.

Geographically, while Brazil is a significant host country, it also serves as a point of origin for displacement. A substantial number of individuals displaced from Brazil are hosted by “Country 10” (326,868), followed by “Country 9” (33,924), indicating a global reach of displacement stemming from Brazil.

The analysis of durable solutions reveals a pronounced shift towards resettlement as a primary pathway for forcibly displaced persons within Brazil. This increasing reliance highlights the critical need for robust integration support, including access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, and protection against discrimination. In stark contrast, returns to countries of origin remain minimal, suggesting ongoing insecurity or a lack of sustainable conditions in home countries, necessitating continued monitoring and ensuring voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation processes.

The critical humanitarian need revolves around supporting a growing population of displaced persons, with particular attention to the Venezuelan and Colombian communities. Key protection concerns include ensuring effective integration for those resettling, and rigorously monitoring the conditions that limit returns to home countries. Further investigation into the barriers preventing returns is crucial for comprehensive humanitarian planning.

Population Overview

Population Overview

As of 2024, Brazil hosts a population of concern totaling 796,000 individuals, encompassing various groups requiring international protection. The demographic breakdown, covering refugees (REF), asylum-seekers (ASY), internally displaced persons (IDP), other people in need of international protection (OIP), stateless persons (STA), and other categories (OOC), reveals a total of 754,946 individuals with gender disaggregation. This detailed information is vital for tailoring humanitarian assistance and protection strategies.

Analysis of population trends from 2019 to 2023 indicates a significant and consistent growth across most monitored groups. Group “1” remains the largest segment, showing substantial increases over the period. Group “5” also exhibits considerable growth, while groups “2”, “3”, “4”, and “6” demonstrate varying degrees of expansion, with “6” consistently representing the smallest, albeit growing, population. Recent data from 2023 to 2024 further confirms these dynamic shifts, with a notable increase in the largest population group and a decrease in another, alongside other less pronounced changes.

Venezuelans constitute the largest refugee population in Brazil, with approximately 141,269 individuals. Colombians represent the second-largest group, numbering around 93,748. These figures highlight the profound impact of the Venezuelan crisis on regional displacement patterns. Understanding these demographic compositions and trends is critical for effective humanitarian response planning and ensuring the protection of vulnerable populations in Brazil.

Demographics

AI Insight: This treemap visualizes the population of concern in Brazil as of 2024, totaling 796,000 individuals. Each colored rectangle represents a distinct group within this population. The size of each rectangle is proportional to the number of people it represents.

While the specific categories of concern are not detailed in the provided data, the treemap effectively communicates the overall scale of the population and how it is distributed among different groups. The varying colors likely signify different nationalities, origins, or types of displacement. Further details would be needed to interpret the specific proportions and reasons for concern for each segment.

AI Insight: This population pyramid displays the demographic breakdown of various population groups in Brazil as of 2024. It covers refugees (REF), asylum-seekers (ASY), internally displaced persons (IDP), other people in need of international protection (OIP), stateless persons (STA), and other categories (OOC).

The data shows gender disaggregation for all 754,946 individuals. The pyramid’s structure allows for a visual comparison of the age distribution between males and females across these different groups. This information is crucial for understanding the specific needs and vulnerabilities of each segment of the population, aiding in the development of targeted humanitarian assistance and protection strategies.

Trends Over Time

AI Insight: This visualization shows the population of different groups in Brazil from 2019 to 2023, measured in thousands. The most prominent group, represented by the blue bar and labeled “1”, consistently forms the largest segment of the population, growing significantly over the years. Another substantial group, shown in a dark green color and labeled “5”, also shows a considerable increase. A smaller but notable segment, in red and labeled “6”, represents individuals with the lowest numbers across all years, though it also appears to be increasing. The grey bars, representing groups “2” and “3”, also show growth, with “2” appearing to track the largest group closely, and “3” representing a smaller portion of the total. The light blue bar labeled “4” shows a steady increase, falling between the largest and the smaller groups in terms of population size.

AI Insight: This visualization depicts changes in various population groups in Brazil between 2023 and 2024, as reported by UNHCR. The chart highlights specific groups with significant population increases and decreases.

The largest group shown experienced a substantial rise, indicated by a prominent bar. Conversely, another group saw a notable decrease. Other population segments also show shifts, though to a lesser extent. Understanding these demographic changes is crucial for effective humanitarian response planning in Brazil.

AI Insight: This visualization highlights the top 9 countries of origin for refugees in Brazil as of 2024. A significant majority of refugees, approximately 141,269, originate from Venezuela, making them the largest group by a considerable margin. Following Venezuela, Colombia accounts for the second-largest refugee population, with about 93,748 individuals. The remaining countries of origin, though smaller in number, still represent important refugee communities within Brazil. This data underscores Venezuela’s ongoing refugee crisis and its impact on neighboring countries like Brazil.

Geography & Movements

Section Summary: Geography & Movements

This section reveals significant trends in the geographical distribution and movement of forcibly displaced populations, both entering and originating from Brazil. UNHCR data from 2024 indicates that Brazil hosts a diverse refugee population, with a pronounced concentration originating from Venezuela, highlighting the ongoing impact of the regional crisis. Haiti and Cuba also represent substantial sources of refugees, pointing to persistent challenges within the Caribbean.

Historically, Brazil’s refugee landscape has evolved. Early data from 1969 shows a large proportion of displaced persons categorized as “Unknown,” suggesting either limited tracking capabilities or a significant internal displacement situation. Over time, this category diminished as more defined origins, such as Cuba and an “Other” category, emerged, illustrating a shift towards better identification and potentially more specific migratory drivers.

Conversely, the data also tracks the primary destinations for individuals displaced from Brazil. A substantial number, totaling 326,868, are hosted by “Country 10,” making it the leading recipient. “Country 9” follows with 33,924 individuals, and subsequent destinations accommodate progressively smaller numbers, down to “Country 1” with 2,342 displaced persons. These figures encompass refugees, asylum-seekers, and others requiring international protection, underscoring the global reach of displacement originating from Brazil. The varied geographical scope of these movements, from widespread polygons on a global map to specific country-to-country flows, necessitates a nuanced understanding of humanitarian needs and targeted intervention strategies.

AI Insight: This visualization, likely a map, displays the geographical distribution of “BRA,” as sourced by UNHCR. The data, presented as MULTIPOLYGON geometries, indicates specific areas are marked. The uniform fill color of white and colour of white with a stroke suggests these locations might represent administrative boundaries, refugee camps, or areas of specific humanitarian concern related to BRA. Without further context on what “BRA” signifies (e.g., a country, a specific population group, or a program), it’s difficult to draw more precise conclusions. However, the widespread nature of these polygons across the globe, given the x/y ranges (-180 to 180, -90 to 83.62), implies a broad geographical scope for this data.

Origin of Displaced Populations

AI Insight: This visualization highlights the diverse origins of refugees in Brazil as of 2024, with a focus on the top 9 countries. The data, sourced from UNHCR, shows a significant concentration of refugees from a few key nations, indicating potential regional crises or specific migratory patterns. The largest group of refugees comes from Venezuela, underscoring the ongoing impact of the Venezuelan crisis on neighboring countries. Other countries with substantial refugee populations in Brazil include Haiti and Cuba, suggesting ongoing challenges in the Caribbean. This information is crucial for targeted aid and integration efforts, enabling humanitarian organizations to better support vulnerable populations and address their specific needs within Brazil.

AI Insight: This visualization tracks the evolution of the forcibly displaced population in Brazil based on their country of origin. The “alluvium” plot indicates flows and changes over time.

Initially, from 1969, a large population (around 40,000 thousand) is categorized as “Unknown” origin, suggesting a lack of specific data or a significant internally displaced population at that time.

A notable shift occurs in 1971, with the emergence of a “Cuba” origin, representing a small but distinct group of displaced persons. Over the years, the “Unknown” category significantly declines, while the “Cuba” origin also shows fluctuations.

By 1984, a new category, “Other,” appears, indicating displacement from origins beyond those specifically tracked. The “Unknown” category stabilizes at a lower level, and the “Other” category remains relatively small. The data suggests a dynamic situation with evolving origins of forcibly displaced populations in Brazil, moving from a predominantly “Unknown” status to more defined origins over time.

Destination

AI Insight: This visualization highlights the primary destinations for forcibly displaced people originating from Brazil as of 2024. The data, sourced from UNHCR, indicates that ten countries are the main recipients of this population.

The country with the largest number of displaced people from Brazil is Country 10, hosting a significant 326,868 individuals. Following this, Country 9 is the second-largest destination, with 33,924 people. The numbers then decrease substantially, with Country 8 hosting 15,623, and subsequent countries accommodating progressively fewer individuals, down to Country 1 with 2,342 displaced people. These figures represent refugees, asylum-seekers, and others in need of international protection.

Asylum System

AI summary failed (API error).

AI Insight: This bar chart visualizes asylum applications and decisions in Brazil from 1999 to 2024. It appears to show trends over time, with different colored bars likely representing distinct categories such as applications filed, decisions made, or types of decisions (e.g., granted, rejected). The note that one person may have multiple applications is important context, suggesting the ‘applications’ data might reflect the number of applications submitted rather than unique individuals. To fully understand the narrative, the legend for the color fills is crucial for distinguishing between applications and decisions, and the specific outcomes of those decisions.

AI Insight: AI narrative generation failed (API error).

AI Insight: AI narrative generation failed (API error).

Recognition Rates

AI Insight: AI narrative generation failed (API error).

AI Insight: AI narrative generation failed (API error).

Solutions

Solutions for Forcibly Displaced Persons in Brazil (2024)

This section analyzes the primary durable solutions pursued by forcibly displaced persons in Brazil as of 2024, specifically focusing on resettlement and returns. The data reveals a significant trend: resettlement has emerged as a dominant pathway for displaced individuals, experiencing a notable increase over the observed periods. This suggests that for a growing number of displaced people in Brazil, integration into new communities within the country or in third countries is becoming the preferred or most viable solution.

In stark contrast, returns to the country of origin appear to be minimal and have remained consistently low across all observed time points. This indicates that, for the displaced population in Brazil, voluntary or assisted repatriation is currently a very limited solution. The low figures for returns may be attributed to various factors, including ongoing insecurity, lack of sustainable conditions, or a perceived lack of opportunity in their home countries.

Key Protection Implications: The strong reliance on resettlement highlights the ongoing need for robust support mechanisms to facilitate successful integration. This includes access to housing, employment, education, healthcare, and social services, as well as protection against discrimination and exploitation in host communities. The limited returns underscore the importance of continued monitoring of the situation in countries of origin and ensuring that any returns are voluntary, safe, and dignified, and that individuals are not coerced into returning prematurely.

Actionable Insights:

• Scale up resettlement support: Given the increasing reliance on resettlement, humanitarian actors and government partners should prioritize and scale up resources dedicated to facilitating successful integration. This includes robust pre-departure orientation, post-arrival support, and community-based integration programs.
• Investigate reasons for low returns: Further in-depth analysis is crucial to understand the specific barriers preventing returns. This could involve consultations with displaced communities to identify concerns and assess the conditions in their countries of origin.
• Strengthen protection monitoring for potential returnees: While returns are low, it is essential to maintain strong protection monitoring mechanisms to ensure that any individuals who do choose to return do so voluntarily and under safe conditions, with appropriate reintegration support available.
• Contextualize temporal trends: A more granular understanding of the specific years or periods represented by the x-axis is vital for refining trend analysis and informing programmatic adjustments.

AI Insight: This visualization tracks the outcomes for forcibly displaced people in Brazil as of 2024, focusing on two key “solutions”: resettlement and returns.

The data indicates that resettlement has been a significant pathway, with a notable increase observed in the later periods represented on the x-axis. Conversely, returns appear to be very limited, with minimal values across all time points. This suggests that for displaced individuals in Brazil, resettlement is a more prevalent solution than returning to their country of origin. Further context on the specific years or periods represented by the x-axis would offer a deeper understanding of these trends.